2017 Accomplishments

CORI's 2017 accomplishments include:

1115 Waiver for Substance Use Disorder

Carried forward from 2016, funding for this waiver was again CORI's top priority for the 2017 session.

The Medicaid SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Waiver Request to HHS includes changes that will draw federal Medicaid funding primarily by using existing state funds and will start treating the disease as one that needs ongoing support after treatment to improve client success.

Specific issue areas include:

Direct access/comprehensive assessments

Withdrawal management

Care coordination

Direct reimbursement

Peer support

If granted, the waiver generates federal funding to supplement existing state funding – adding an estimated $50,000,000 to SUD programs and services.

Detox Funding

$7,000,000 was included in this waiver proposal to pay for the county share of detox in 2020/21, again to be supplemented by Medicaid. This funding will allow counties to reopen detox centers and provide a stable funding source for existing centers. Due to capacity and reimbursement issues, detox centers in hospitals will discharge as soon as the medical crisis is stabilized rather than retain substance users for a day or two while locating in-patient treatment.

Recovery School Funding

Money to expand two recovery schools in Rochester and St. Cloud was in the K-12 bill. Current base funding is $500,000 per year for the existing four schools - that number has now increased to $750,000 for all six schools; transportation is also a permissible use of these funds.

Ujamaa Place

Again included in equity funding $600,000 in '18 & '19, allowing continued expansion of their services for young-adult minority males exiting the prison system. They will then be put in a competitive grant program in 2020/21.

Treatment Courts

The state appropriated $1.7M per year for treatment courts to stabilize the program. This is the first major commitment from the state to fund these highly effective programs diverting substance users from incarceration to accountable, structured rehabilitation.